Use a strap like this. Hangs on both shoulders. Even distribution of weight. A life saver!!
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Double Bass Anyone else ruined for bass guitar?
- Thread starter AGCurry
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Use a strap like this. Hangs on both shoulders. Even distribution of weight. A life saver!!
That is a beautiful bass! I bet it sounds amazing. The photo below is like the one I let go.
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Wow, that one's stunningly beautiful. All the [useless] fine tuners are there, the shaft on the double-ganged pot hasn't split, you have all the right knobs, and the "gold plating" is flawless. I've fixed mine up since that photo was taken, but yours can't be beat. I hope you received a good price for it!
$500 in about '93. I paid rent with it. Terrible idea!
I had an '83 Jazz I tricked out w/ the Elite bridge and fancy active pickups I sold around '93...also to pay rent. Bought it new and it was my first "good bass".
Nice basses, with shallow but wide necks. I have had this one since '84.
Back to the OP - Taking up upright has only improved my BG playing. The learning process opened up new ways of thinking about the BG. It probably helps that my main gig involves a set of BG each gig!
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That's the gift that my wife gave me this Xmas. Yes, I've started studying only since one year but double bass is kinda ruining bass for me too.
Those are the main two reasons to get a DB, but there are more as well.
What a great thread, @AGCurry. I've really loved reading everyone's responses so far.
My first bass instrument was BG at 14, then DB at 18. I wouldn't say I've been "ruined" on BG by the double bass, per se. I think I'll always feel a little bit more natural on BG as it's the bass instrument I have played the longest and gig most frequently on, but my heart is a little bit more with DB as I feel like I can express myself more authentically on that instrument in ways that I can't with BG.
My concepts of the two instruments have informed each other quite a bit in my holistic concept of bass, though I would certainly say that DB has informed my BG playing a lot more than the other way around. As I mature as a BG player, I have found that I care less about chops and a lot more about good, supportive bass lines - restraint and taste.
My tonal preferences for BG have changed too. I have definitely become a "P with flats" guy from years of DB playing. I also own a 5 string active J bass as I frequently play gigs where that sound and the extra notes provided by the low B string are desirable, but its no longer my favorite electric sound. These days I would do every BG gig with my P bass if I felt like I could get away with it.
My first bass instrument was BG at 14, then DB at 18. I wouldn't say I've been "ruined" on BG by the double bass, per se. I think I'll always feel a little bit more natural on BG as it's the bass instrument I have played the longest and gig most frequently on, but my heart is a little bit more with DB as I feel like I can express myself more authentically on that instrument in ways that I can't with BG.
My concepts of the two instruments have informed each other quite a bit in my holistic concept of bass, though I would certainly say that DB has informed my BG playing a lot more than the other way around. As I mature as a BG player, I have found that I care less about chops and a lot more about good, supportive bass lines - restraint and taste.
My tonal preferences for BG have changed too. I have definitely become a "P with flats" guy from years of DB playing. I also own a 5 string active J bass as I frequently play gigs where that sound and the extra notes provided by the low B string are desirable, but its no longer my favorite electric sound. These days I would do every BG gig with my P bass if I felt like I could get away with it.
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Playing DB for the last 8 years has actually made me appreciate BG more for the things I can do on it that I can't do on DB and vice versa. It has lead to the unfortunate need to bring both instruments to rehearsals and gigs with my current band. I love practicing DB then picking up a BG and the strings feel like melted butter under my fingers
I was ruined from the git go. I started on cello, and got a second hand electric bass to play in the middle school jazz band. After a couple years of fighting with the frets, I pulled them out and filled the slots with Plastic Wood. That's still my favorite BG, a de-fretted Fender Mustang from around 1972.
I got a DB when I started college, and took lessons on it while continuing to play electric bass in the jazz band. Eventually I started playing jazz on DB and it's become my main instrument of course. It's a jealous mistress.
Many years later I tried to play fretted bass again, and failed a second time. I've encouraged both of my kids, if they take up bass for any reason, they should not be lazy like me, but actually learn how to play well with frets, because fretted bass is a different sound, that's what's called for when it's called for. I've never really been asked to play anything that needs a real electric bassist, as opposed to a DB'ist trying to play electric.
Today, if it's a challenging gig, like reading difficult music or playing stuff that's over my head, I have to bring my DB, because it kind of plays itself while I try to think about what's actually going on. That might be the main way that lack of practice shows itself on BG. Plus, I love arco.
The DB is kind of a counterbalance for the fact that I tend to be a rather busy player. So I always face the dilemma of either trying not to be too obnoxious on BG, or just embrace it and let it fly.
More recently, I've gotten my cello back into playable condition, and am learning to play jazz on it. Jury's still out on whether that will be a good idea or not, but I figure since I don't have an audience to offend anyway, I might as well give it a try at home.
I got a DB when I started college, and took lessons on it while continuing to play electric bass in the jazz band. Eventually I started playing jazz on DB and it's become my main instrument of course. It's a jealous mistress.
Many years later I tried to play fretted bass again, and failed a second time. I've encouraged both of my kids, if they take up bass for any reason, they should not be lazy like me, but actually learn how to play well with frets, because fretted bass is a different sound, that's what's called for when it's called for. I've never really been asked to play anything that needs a real electric bassist, as opposed to a DB'ist trying to play electric.
Today, if it's a challenging gig, like reading difficult music or playing stuff that's over my head, I have to bring my DB, because it kind of plays itself while I try to think about what's actually going on. That might be the main way that lack of practice shows itself on BG. Plus, I love arco.
The DB is kind of a counterbalance for the fact that I tend to be a rather busy player. So I always face the dilemma of either trying not to be too obnoxious on BG, or just embrace it and let it fly.
More recently, I've gotten my cello back into playable condition, and am learning to play jazz on it. Jury's still out on whether that will be a good idea or not, but I figure since I don't have an audience to offend anyway, I might as well give it a try at home.
Something that puts this into perspective for me is that of all the BGs I've owned over the years, I never was hesitant to sell one if somebody expressed an interest in buying it. I would sometimes offer to sell one that somebody even looked at( you like it ? you want to buy it?). I was never emotionally attached to any of them. To sell a DB was much more of an issue and I needed much better reasons.
I started on DB, my choice.
Bands have tried to get me to play bass guitar, I refuse.
Yes, it's a hassle, constantly... and then all consternation & aggravation is forgotten and forgiven when...
...those notes hit your ear.
I did get a couple slabs, thought I'd dabble, uhm double, and I do occasionally dabble... at home.
Bands have tried to get me to play bass guitar, I refuse.
Yes, it's a hassle, constantly... and then all consternation & aggravation is forgotten and forgiven when...
...those notes hit your ear.
I did get a couple slabs, thought I'd dabble, uhm double, and I do occasionally dabble... at home.
Whenever i come back to bass guitar it takes an adjustment period to get my finesse back...very noticeable in my touch on the instrument. Generally i have to relearn to play very lightly in both hands and get reacquainted with the neck dimensions. Now if i make a point of keeping up with it while playing upright, that gap is minimized, but in recent years all my gigs are on the upright except for one in a blue moon.
My roots are in rock, so i still enjoy music that really requires a bass guitar and just won't work out on an upright. I can't play prog rock on an upright.
My roots are in rock, so i still enjoy music that really requires a bass guitar and just won't work out on an upright. I can't play prog rock on an upright.
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I started on DB but picked up BG shortly after that, so I've been doubling almost since day 1. Over the years I've gone through phases where I'm doing the majority of gigs on one instrument for a period of time and neglecting the other. I usually feel rusty coming back after one of those, but in my experience it's like riding a bike. The chops come back if you put the time in. Now if it were a couple of years, it would probably be a little harder to shake out the cobwebs but I think with a little patience the muscle memory would return.
On a side note, I am enjoying the photos
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What a great thread!
I have played BG as my first "serious" instrument for about 10 years. This summer, I decided to rent a DB and see where it takes me. Initially, I split my practice time between DB and BG (I was worried about losing my BG "chops"), but since there are no gigs anyway, I put the BG aside and started practicing some basic piano alongside the DB.
At this point in my BG journey, my technique is way ahead of my ears and reading chops. With DB and piano, technique is currently the biggest challenge. It's interesting to be able to read faster than I can play, and let the ear and not muscle memory guide what I play.
What I'm hoping for is that any BG-specific muscle memory I'll lose will be compensated by a better overall musicianship I'll gain. ...assuming I'll return to BG at least partially when gigs are an option again
I have played BG as my first "serious" instrument for about 10 years. This summer, I decided to rent a DB and see where it takes me. Initially, I split my practice time between DB and BG (I was worried about losing my BG "chops"), but since there are no gigs anyway, I put the BG aside and started practicing some basic piano alongside the DB.
At this point in my BG journey, my technique is way ahead of my ears and reading chops. With DB and piano, technique is currently the biggest challenge. It's interesting to be able to read faster than I can play, and let the ear and not muscle memory guide what I play.
What I'm hoping for is that any BG-specific muscle memory I'll lose will be compensated by a better overall musicianship I'll gain. ...assuming I'll return to BG at least partially when gigs are an option again
Not yet, but this is something that I fear. I've not played DB for long enough, I expect; having put off getting one for a long time I have eventually managed to overcome the logistical problems, helped by a very lucky local sale. There doesn't seem to be any deleterious effect on BG yet, but if you have suffered even with your greater experience then perhaps this is in store for me later.
Photos from ~1994 (first bass I had) and 2021 below:
Not playing BG anymore is most likely going to happen.
I played many different instruments one after the other on a pretty serious level, that means classical/orchestral stuff as well (clarinet, various saxes, guitar, bass guitar, tuba, trombone), all for periods of five years or more, to then try something new because of physical problems (accident with my right hand, hearing problems, RSI, but I'm OK again), or because that particular instrument bored me (especially the clarinet and the tuba, although my wife is still sad about my selling my supersmooth King Zephyr alto sax).
On every new instrument, I took serious lessons. For the last 11 years I played 5-string fretless BG, mostly jazz and Latin. I had been thinking about going over to DB a couple of times but didn't do it (money, fear of failure, you're 68 now, it has to stop, etc., etc.). Just before last Christmas, I was watching one of Emmet Cohen's video's, with Russell Hall on the DB and Cyrille Aimée singing 'La Vie en Rose'. So much pure enthusiasm! I showed it to my wife. "Why don't you start on the DB?", she went. The rest is history. My three BG's are in the attic, and I have a teacher half my age (LOL). I consider myself a clumsy DB player, but still: I play DB, therefore I am. And I'll be back on stage.
I played many different instruments one after the other on a pretty serious level, that means classical/orchestral stuff as well (clarinet, various saxes, guitar, bass guitar, tuba, trombone), all for periods of five years or more, to then try something new because of physical problems (accident with my right hand, hearing problems, RSI, but I'm OK again), or because that particular instrument bored me (especially the clarinet and the tuba, although my wife is still sad about my selling my supersmooth King Zephyr alto sax).
On every new instrument, I took serious lessons. For the last 11 years I played 5-string fretless BG, mostly jazz and Latin. I had been thinking about going over to DB a couple of times but didn't do it (money, fear of failure, you're 68 now, it has to stop, etc., etc.). Just before last Christmas, I was watching one of Emmet Cohen's video's, with Russell Hall on the DB and Cyrille Aimée singing 'La Vie en Rose'. So much pure enthusiasm! I showed it to my wife. "Why don't you start on the DB?", she went. The rest is history. My three BG's are in the attic, and I have a teacher half my age (LOL). I consider myself a clumsy DB player, but still: I play DB, therefore I am. And I'll be back on stage.
